One of the most promising technologies that has developed (and been cost reduced) over the last several years in the tech word has to be 3-D printing. 3-D printing allows manufacturers to quickly prototype products using varying materials, and Nokia is now talking about its efforts in the field with the Lumia 820 3-D printing community project.

The key to the 3-D printing community project has to do with the creation and release of the number of 3-D templates, case specifications, recommended materials, and best practices. The idea is to allow the community to 3-D print their own shell for Lumia 820 smartphone. The removable shell of the phone is one of the most interesting design features of this Windows Phone 8 device.

Nokia says that it is offering the required files and documents for 3-D printing your own shell for the smartphone as the 3-D printing Development Kit or 3DK.

Nokia Community & Developer Marketing Manager John Kneeland said of 3-D printing, "In the future, I envision wildly more modular and customizable phones. Perhaps in addition to our own beautifully-designed phones, we could sell some kind of phone template, and entrepreneurs the world over could build a local business on building phones precisely tailored to the needs of his or her local community. You want a waterproof, glow-in-the-dark phone with a bottle-opener and a solar charger? Someone can build it for you—or you can print it yourself!"

Being able to 3-D printed custom cases for Nokia smartphones is an interesting feature. While most consumers don't have access to a 3-D printer (although Staples is looking to change this), the Nokia 3DK does open the door for 3-D printing companies to start producing all sorts of interesting accessories for the Lumia 820.

You don't have to buy your own 3-D printer. There are websites that offer 3-D printing services, and places like Staples will have the service in-store before long. Also, people could start small business that print custom accessories using 3-D printers.